Hackers Likely to Continue Efforts

5. Security firms get going
Though much of the focus in the security space is in protecting the
desktop and now mobile phones, it wouldn't be all that surprising if
security firms attempt to capitalize on the PlayStation Network breach.
Expect solutions for protecting personal information to continue to
crop up from vendors who see an opportunity to help customers.

6. Continued targeting

The fun isn't over for Sony, Microsoft or any other online-gaming
provider. Now that hackers have been able to breach Sony's defenses and
steal private information, they will likely only continue those
efforts. Sony might have enlisted the help of criminal investigators to
help in this case, but that won't be enough to stop malicious hackers.
A success only inspires them to try again and again.
7. Microsoft's attempt to capitalize
Microsoft should (and likely will) use the PlayStation Network breach
as an opportunity. For one, the company can beef up its Xbox Live
security to ensure such a problem doesn't occur on its service. It can
also be the so-called "safe" destination for those who don't
necessarily trust Sony any longer. In the coming months, look for
Microsoft to use Sony's troubles for its own gain. After all, who can
blame it?
8. More jarring details
Though Sony wasn't so forthcoming when its service was initially
hacked, the company has come a long way in being more open about the
breach. However, in the coming months, as Sony starts to lick its
wounds, expect many more details to emerge. Unfortunately, those
details might be jarring to those who currently subscribe to the
PlayStation Network. As with everything else in the technology
industry, it could take months to gain a full understanding of the nature and scope of the breach.
9. A management shake-up
It's no surprise that this massive security breach has prompted
critics to call for Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer to step down. They say
that this is the last straw for the executive, who has committed
several missteps at Sony as of late. It's hard to refute their logic.
When a security breach of this monumental size takes place people are
usually replaced. This incident is so egregious it looks like Sony's
network infrastructure was weakly protected and an inviting target for
hackers. Heads should certainly roll and not just the IT executives who
were in charge of security. Considering the trouble Sir Howard finds
himself in over this latest breach, it might not be long before he's
forced to step aside.
10. A return to the old ways
All this talk of potentially negative effects of the PlayStation Network breach after the service is restored
leaves out one other possible result: a return to status quo. So far,
Sony has handled the breach quite well. And as more details emerge, it
seems that the company did a satisfactory job of protecting important
data. If Sony plays its cards right and the mainstream starts to focus
on other things, the PlayStation Network and Qriocity might just return
to the way things were before the breach. And all this will be
forgotten.

Don Reisinger is a freelance technology columnist. He started writing about technology for Ziff-Davis' Gearlog.com. Since then, he has written extremely popular columns for CNET.com, Computerworld, InformationWeek, and others. He has appeared numerous times on national television to share his expertise with viewers. You can follow his every move at http://twitter.com/donreisinger.